US credit ratings could soon be another worry for mortgage rates
Rating agencies are keeping a close eye on whether politicians in the nation's polarized Capitol will rise to challenges including the $34.8T national debt, debt ceilings and inflation
by Matt Carter Nov 14
Rates ease as Fed says it will dial back balance sheet tightening
Fed policymakers will slow the pace of 'quantitative tightening' — an unwinding of the central bank's $7T balance sheet — to $40B a month, less than half the pace envisioned 2 years ago
by Matt Carter May 1
Mortgage rates ease for 2nd consecutive day on inflation data
'Quantitative tightening' — the Federal Reserve's moves to trim $35B in mortgages from its balance sheet each month — could keep mortgage rates from falling dramatically this year
by Matt Carter Mar 1
Fed policymakers want more data, dash hopes of March rate cut
Chair Jerome Powell says a rate cut at the central bank's next meeting is not 'the base case,' with policymakers wanting to see more data showing inflation is on a sustainable path down to 2%
by Matt Carter Jan 31
Housing groups including NAR float wonky idea to cut mortgage rates
NAR united with lending groups on Thursday to urge the Fed to maintain its current mortgage holdings in order to narrow a wide 'spread' between 10-year Treasurys and rising mortgage rates
by Matt Carter Oct 13
The 2023 fall housing market won't look anything like the 2022 market
Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist Matthew Gardner revealed to Intel why an inventory surge in the fall of 2022 may have been a blip — and what that might mean for the housing market
by Daniel Houston Sep 13
Purchase loan applications once again at lowest level since 1995
Mortgage rates are climbing back toward 2023 highs as more inflation data comes in hot, spurring fears of another Federal Reserve rate hike in November and 'higher for longer' policy
by Matt Carter Sep 6
Rating agencies issue more cautions about banking industry
It's not just regional banks but larger lenders, such as JPMorgan and Bank of America facing uncertainty if interest rates stay higher for longer, analysts at Fitch and Moody's said
by Matt Carter Aug 15
Mortgage rates inch up from 2023 lows on strong jobs report
Strong job numbers spark fears that the Fed will need to stick to its guns and continue to raise rates and keep them elevated for some time to fight inflation
by Matt Carter Feb 9
Purchase mortgage demand up 4th week in a row as rates fall
Without adjustment for seasonal factors, demand for both purchase loans and refinancing remains at their lowest levels since 2000, according to MBA lender survey
by Matt Carter Nov 30
Demand for mortgages hits lowest level in more than 20 years
High mortgage rates, challenging affordability and a gloomier economic outlook are keeping buyers on the sidelines, Mortgage Bankers Association forecaster Joel Kan said
by Matt Carter Aug 17
Mortgage rates trend up again: Investors weigh Fed's next moves
Aggregate demand for mortgages, both purchase and refinancing, at lowest level since December 2018, as bottom falls out of refinancing market
by Matt Carter Jun 1
Mortgage rates may level off as Fed unveils details of tightening plan
Mortgage rates may level off despite the biggest short-term interest rate hike in 20 years thanks to the certainty the Fed is providing about its plans to shrink its nearly $9 trillion balance sheet
by Matt Carter May 4
Interest rates climb as Fed looks to shrink balance sheet
Although the Fed hasn't set a timetable for shrinking its balance sheet, it's likely to do so more quickly than it did after the 2007-09 recession
by Matt Carter Jan 5
Good news will push rates up slightly -- and what's next?
What the international banking scene means for interest rates in the U.S.
by Lou Barnes Oct 28